Topic > Egalitarianism vs Complementarism - 1108

Key Principles The important part of this debate is the relationship between men and women. It is not just a question of "'woman's place in the church,' but involves the larger question of the design of the relationship between man and woman in creation and redemption" (Saucy 21). Men and women are both created in the image of God, but they are created differently. They were created to need each other and be one, but the special relationship was broken by sin. (Saucy 21-22) Most people on both sides of the issue agree that the New Testament says that wives are to be submissive to their husbands, as does Ephesians 5:22 and Colossians 3:18. I also agree that in 1 Timothy Paul says that women cannot teach men. The division comes from how these verses apply to the church today. Egalitarianism Those who believe that all positions and ministries of the church are equally open to both sexes are called egalitarians. (Saucy 26) Alan G. Padgett, for the organization Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE), defines biblical equality as: “All have the same responsibility to use their gifts and obey their calling to the glory of God. God freely calls believers to roles and ministries without distinction of class, gender or race." (22) They would see that the verses about women being submissive and unable to teach do not apply to the church today. Egalitarians can be further divided into a more liberal and a more conservative view. The more liberal view sees all gender distinctions as the fault of leaving a patriarchal society, which does not come from God. The more conservative view tends to see restrictions for women targeted at specific people and churches that no longer apply to church. (Saucy 27)ComplementarismComplementaries......middle of paper......well Theological Seminary, n.d. Web. March 22, 2014. .Driscoll, Mark . "Complementarism". The Risorgimento. Np, March 29, 2009. Web. March 28, 2014. Miller, R.M., 1979, Slave Religion: The “Invisible Institution” in the Antebellum South [Book review], Theology Today, 36(2), 297-299.Reiher, Jim. "Galatians 3:28 - Deliverance for Women's Ministry? Or Limited Application?". Expository Times 123.6 (2012): 272-277. ATLA Religious Database with ATLASerials.Web. February 27, 2014. Saucy, Robert L., and Judith K. TenElshof. Women and men in ministry: A complementary perspective. Chicago: Moody Press, 2001. Print.Zehr, Paul M. 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus. Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2010. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Network. February 27. 2014.